What is Bullying?
The behaviour of a person who hurts or frightens someone smaller or less powerful, often forcing that person to do something they do not want to do: Bullying is a problem in many schools.
Whether bullying is physical, verbal, or social (relational), four widely-accepted factors can be used to identify it:
Bullying is deliberate - harming another person intentionally.
Bullying involves a misuse of power in a relationship.
Bullying is usually not a one-off - it is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time
Bullying involves behaviour that can cause harm - it is not a normal part of growing up.
Physical bullying:
This involves hurting someone, or damaging or stealing their belongings. It includes:
- hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, biting
- tripping, shoving or intimidating another person
- mean or rude hand gestures
- touching another person when they don't want you to
- being made afraid of being hurt
- stealing or damaging possesions.
Verbal bullying
This involves saying or writing mean things. It includes:
- name calling
- teasing someone in a hurtful way
- making fun of someone
- being sarcastic in a hurtful way
- offensive comments, insults or jokes about someone and their family because of their race, culture, religion, disability or sexuality.
- mean comments about someone's body or physical characteristics such as their weight or height
- hurtful comments about the way someone looks or behaves
- inappropriate sexual comments
- taunting
- threatening to cause harm.
Social bullying
This involves hurting someone's relationships or reputation. It includes:
- ignoring or leaving someone out on purpose
- telling others not to be friends with someone
- spreading rumours about someone
- destroying relationships and friendships
- embarassing someone in public
- sharing information or images that will have a harmful effect on the other person
- telling lies or stories about someone to make others not like them.
